I've just installed RH9 on my second HDD and I'm having trouble with what I think may be my graphics card.

At the installation if I chose the graphical installer, my monitor turned off. So I chose the text based installer and installed linux RH9 through that. I then chose my graphics card as Nvidia Geforce FX. (My card is a 5200 Nvidia Geforce FX).

Now, my dual boot comes up with Linux & Windows, and when I choose linux everything goes okay and everything starts getting loaded. Then my monitor turns off again. I dont get given an option to edit my configuration again. How can I try check my graphics card settings and such? Is this a common problem with the Geforce?

Regards,

Pierce Ward.

Try entering Run Level Three...if using GRUB, on the boot screen hit for edit, and on the second line edit again (that's the kernel line) and put a space at the end and a 3. Then boot...you will boot into non-graphical mode.

Then you can navigate to your XF86.config file and open it with vi. Look at all the settings, especially the "device" section to see if the proper driver is installed...I'm thinking that the canned "nv" one is the one that will work, or should. You definitely have a problem with a driver module problem.

You can also get a driver from nVidia...install it in NON - Graphic mode, and then edit the config file to use the "nvidia" driver....with some options, it might work fine. Others will give more precise instructions because I am on the road and don't have my stuff here...but many have problems with video cards...so you'll get it figured out...

I'm using LILO! :'( Any idea how to do it on that?

Quote:

Then you can navigate to your XF86.config file and open it with vi. Look at all the settings, especially the "device" section to see if the proper driver is installed...I'm thinking that the canned "nv" one is the one that will work, or should. You definitely have a problem with a driver module problem.

I have a general idea of what I used when I installed slack. If only I could get into xf86config.

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You can also get a driver from nVidia...install it in NON - Graphic mode, and then edit the config file to use the "nvidia" driver....with some options, it might work fine. Others will give more precise instructions because I am on the road and don't have my stuff here...but many have problems with video cards...so you'll get it figured out...

That's a little beyond me at the moment. This is my first attempt at using linux that's not on a server...

Pierce.

Gee, sorry about that...I just assumed you were using GRUB...and assumptions can be a "bad thing indeed!" You might consider booting off the installation CD and entering "rescue mode" which will put you in Run level 1 as a root user. Now you can navigate to files in non-graphical mode, using the vi editor to look at the various files, finding the init file that controls your run level (gee, for some reason I can't remember where that is and it's name...but it's in either the /boot or the /etc directories...I'm not home now...and change the runlevel from "5" to "3" on that file (it's near the beginning and obvious if you get to the right file...someone help me here) and then on the next boot you will go into Run Level 3 as a regular user.

Once there, your system will be fully up, but not in Graphical mode.

You can do all of this in Single user (run level 1) also and edit from there.

But you still have to find the proper module...why it isn't finding it with an nvidia card is beyond me...I have only had trouble with ATI cards. There IS a good driver in there somewhere for you...and the stock one is "nv" but there might be another one you can try (again, someone help here...I'm not at my linux machine...I'm on the road in of all things...Windows 98 with a company computer...and it's only locked up twice.....I've had the computer turned on three times though)

Have fun

Thanks, "nv" is the correct driver name

Now I just need to know how to get my sound card working and get my modem configured. Or at least get RH to find my modem. Stupid winmodem.

Pierce.

Does that mean that you got your video up and running? Success?

Winmodems are a "big" problem in Linux as they are software based....some have gotten them running, but every time I look at the procedures I say "I think I'll go to Best Buy and get a Serial external hardware Modem" that will work as soon as you hook it up. As a matter of fact, most of them even say "Linux" on the side of the box. Just do it and don't bother with the Win Modem.....some might disagree with me here, but that's what I would do.

Sound...what card do you have. I had a Philips card that wouldn't work and wasn't recognized. I can't fine a driver from them for Linux. I went and got an Audigy. I know....I know....hardware to work with Linux....MOST of it does, but if you have obscure hardware, it's easier to get the mainstream hardware...I take the "easy" way out on that. Not very expensive.

By the way, the Fedora release coming out on Monday should have more hardware support than RH9.

If you can go to the web site (on a different computer, of course) of the sound card manufacturer, you might find a driver. Follow the procedure and insmod the module to plug-it into the kernel...very straight forward and you might be in business.

Yep, I've logged into RH Linux. Now, to find a step by step guide to Linux and how to use it. So much different from windows.

Well, I've a Dell Data Fax Modem. But, from what I heard off a friend, Linux treats all internal modems as winmodems right? Plus, I'm a college student, so I dont exactly have money to be spending on external modems etc.

Well, my sound card is built into my new motherboard, an ASUS A7V8X-X. RH even auto detected it and when I played the test sound there was no sound!

What's Fedora? A sub distro of Red Hat?

Will try out.

Pierce.

Hey Pierce! One success down and a couple more to go! Yes, get a BASIC Linux book to read. This will help a GREAT deal. As Linux matures, the hardware problems are being addressed and becoming easier. I have an A7V8X (not the -X) motherboard and the integrated Broadcom NIC driver is not to be found in Red Hat 9....but I found one at their web site, followed the procedure and installed it and it works like a charm. So you might find one for the integrated sound...it could be that it's identifying itself to Red Hat, but Red Hat can't find a module for it. The A7V8X's are kind of new and brand new stuff is hard for Linux to pick up. Windows can't either, but drivers are more redily available.

OK...about the Modem...I don't have much experience with them...I feel your pain about money. Soft Modems (Most modern internal types) are a "problem" but not all internal modems are soft modems....MOST are. You are just about guarantied to have a good working modem with an external one....they are better modems anyway. I can't help you with that one, maybe someone will jump in and tell you how to get your existing modem to work.

The sound....it "sounds" like (no pun intended) you are really close...it's just that you need a driver. If you know the exact chip model for audio, you might be able to do a search and find a nice driver for it. Many times these come as source rpms that you use the rpm command that will build a binary rpm that you can install as a usable module. Then, after the module is built for your system, you can install it with a insmod command (you must know where this module went...I can't remember in Red Hat without looking at my system, but the instructions usually point you to the right direction...and then from then on your system is configured until, of course, you upgrade or change the kernel...you might have to do the procedure again if you do that.

Fedora is the "next" Red Hat for community use. It has been spun off from Red Hat as the concentrate on their Enterprise stuff....it is completely free, and cutting edge. The final version of fedora 1 will come out this coming week. Check it out at http://fedora.redhat.com and you will see how this will be what Red Hat 10 would have been.

Have fun and enjoy college...it's been 24 years for me and I wish I could
go back

Thanks very much for all the help. I will continue my search for a driver for my sound card! I'll also be downloading Fedora on Monday Who knows, that might just support my sound card by default.

I guess the only way to find out exactly what my sound card is, is to open my case and get the code for it. I've noticed other people here have had problems with sound and this motherboard, but all thier solutions seemed to be different.... Thanks for all the help Now, where the hell is LILO in RH? I can't run lilo to make the changes I did to lilo.conf because RH doesnt recognise lilo as a command... odd...

I'm going to be shutting down soon...I'm out of town and going home later today, but busy tonight with some stuff at chuch.

Gee, I use GRUB, not Lilo...but I'm sure that the config file is in /boot somewhere...you can just navigate and find it, or do a "locate lilo" command and it will find anything with "lilo" in there and you can find it that way.

Fedora has a slight delay and won't be released until Wednesday at the earliest now. Get this....there are some export issues to resolve and the gov is closed on the weekends! With the new name, thy have to jump through a couple of hoops before it's released. So, keep an eye on fedora.redhat.com and see when it's released. I'm sure that there are many more hardware drivers included as there usually are in each major release.

Have fun!

Everything is working except the sound card and modem. I've found two sites on how to get 'em working though. I just need to figure out installations and such in linux.

www.linmodems.org & http://www.alsa-project.org/ seem to be good bets. Please God let all this go well! I'm starting to like Linux

Hi Pierce and Bobmeister,
I am an extremely Linux newbie. I have the same problem with Pierce. I managed to get into the command line of:-

[root@localhost root]#

Now I do not know what to do. Can you guys guide me towards step by step instructions.
Appreciate your help.

Where did you get to the command line? Off the CD?

Anyway, if you have the same graphics card as me your card type is NOT GeForce FX oddly enough. It's Generic Nvidia, or just "nv". That worked for me.

Hello guys....I'm sorry but I was away for quite a while and will be soon. Yes, the "nv" driver will work for all of the GeForce and FX cards...although Red Hat is usually pretty good about auto-detecting that and should self-configure, you can Always edit the XF86Config file found in /etc/X11 at any time.

The command line is found by opening a terminal. If you are in gnome, you right-click and find a menu item. In KDE you also can right-click in later iterations or find a menu item.

If the X windows system is off, you WILL be in the command line unless you didn't boot up and log in properly.

a $ means that you are a regular user and won't be able to write to any configuration files.
a # means that you are a super-user (root) and can do anything, including messing up your system. You will have to get to # to do this work.

To get to # if you are $ you type "su" and then your root password.

To exit out of # you type "exit" and then you will be $ again. To exit out of the terminal
you type "exit" and are back to normal, unless you are in Run level 3 anyway in case you will be just in command-line mode.

I have to go now...hopefully some people will continue to help you guys...I cannot stress enough to SEARCH this site and also get a BASIC Linux book to help you with these basics as it will go a long way to getting you familiar with how this stuff works.

Hi Pierce and Bobmeister again,
YAAAHOOO!!!!
Finally able to get into the GUI screen. Thanks.
Couldn't have done it without you two's help.

I know I have not even scratch the surface of linux, but at least I get to play around with the interface. I was at the edge of throwing it all and going back to MS-Windows.

Bobmeister,
Any particular name of a book on basic LINUX that you would highly recommended to me?

Thanks again.